Community Forums

Ri-Di · 04-22-2023, 09:04 AM

I have a small trickle charger solar panel on my roof. Recently I had an issue with my chassis batteries going dead. I got that resolved but would like to understand why the solar panel didn’t pick up the slack. Does anyone know how to test it or where it connects to the chassis battery system?
Any help will be appreciated.
Rick

amosnandy · 04-22-2023, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ri-Di

I have a small trickle charger solar panel on my roof. Recently I had an issue with my chassis batteries going dead. I got that resolved but would like to understand why the solar panel didn’t pick up the slack. Does anyone know how to test it or where it connects to the chassis battery system?
Any help will be appreciated.
Rick

Put a VOM set to current (the clamp around type) on the positive battery cable at night. See if it is drawing power.

Then do the same test durinig the day. My 06 Winnebago Journey showed .3 amps draw with everything turned off and nothing plugged in.

In bright sunlight I saw a positive charge of .5 amps charging. SO not much. Unless there was 12 hours of full sunlight there is no way the solar would keep up.

Persistent · 04-22-2023, 10:16 AM

Good advice above.

Try this:

Measure battery terminal voltage with a cheap digital voltmeter. If the solar is charging your battery and keeping it full, voltage will be 13.2 volts or higher.

Early morning, voltage will be at its lowest.
Mid afternoon, voltage will be at its highest. If not 13.2 or higher, the solar is not keeping up. Decrease consumption or increase solar size.

flyboy013 · 04-22-2023, 07:32 PM

The easiest test would be to pull the inline fuse on a sunny day and check the voltage between the solar panel side of the fuse terminal and the battery ground. You should have 13+ volts. You could also pull the fuse and use the multimeter to check amps flowing through the fuse holder.

Rev. Roy · 04-23-2023, 11:40 AM

Here comes the obvious question, have you checked the inline fuse? I had someone tell me that theirs had 2 inline fuses. I never checked mine so I can't say.

Jim 75 · 05-01-2023, 08:58 PM

You dont have a TIRE MINDER Sending unit with Alligator clips connected to your chassis battery post??? Forgot to take mine off when we got to our site in Fla. Batteries (8) went down to 4.8 volts, lucky they have shut-offs Crown AGM 6 volts. slow charge for 24 hrs. all is well Jim

Skip426 · 05-01-2023, 09:22 PM

The solar panel Newmar installed on my coach is only 8 watts , so barely enough to keep up with parasitic draws from the engine/transmission ECM .

Parked in shade the panel will loose ground to the draws as well as overnight.

How long was the coach parked before the batteries were found to be dead?